The Kansas City Chiefs placed kicker Spencer Shrader (hamstring) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday and signed kicker Matthew Wright to the 53-man active roster in a corresponding move. Shrader will be required to miss at least the next four games, meaning he won't be eligible to return until the Week 18 regular-season finale in Denver against the division-rival Broncos. Shrader was initially signed when the team put regular kicker Harrison Butker (knee) on IR, but he only made it two games with the Chiefs before getting injured himself. Butker will be eligible to come off IR in Week 15 to face the Cleveland Browns, so Wright could only stick around in KC for another week. Last week in the win over the Raiders, Wright made four of his five field-goal attempts and his only extra point. He'll be on the streaming radar on Sunday night against the Chargers in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that quarterback Baker Mayfield (leg) would have been a full participant on Wednesday if the team held a full practice. The team conducted a light walkthrough session for the first practice of the week. Mayfield went down in pain in the Week 13 overtime win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday when he was cleated in his right leg. The 29-year-old briefly left the game but returned to lead the team to a win in overtime, and the Bucs expect him to be just fine to play this Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. Fantasy managers were a bit disappointed with his showing against Carolina, as he threw for only 235 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, but he has a great matchup upcoming and will have QB1 upside against the Raiders.

From RotoBaller

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs' calf injury is something that he dealt with in the past this season, and it's more of a nagging issue more than anything. Although Jacobs popped up on the Week 14 injury report and was listed as limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday, there's not much cause for concern. Jacobs could get back to a full practice on Wednesday and be removed from the final injury report altogether. Even if he's listed as questionable for Thursday night's big divisional contest against the Detroit Lions, we'd expect Jacobs to be ready to play while handling his normal lead-back role in the Packers' backfield. The Lions aren't the greatest matchup for an opposing RB, especially at Ford Field, but Jacobs has had enough volume in 2024 to be considered a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills wide receivers Keon Coleman (wrist) and Curtis Samuel (undisclosed) will both be limited in Wednesday's walkthrough practice. Coleman hasn't suited up for a game since Week 9 but was limited in all three practices last week and appears to be nearing a return, possibly this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. When the 21-year-old second-rounder does return, he should be back in starting three-wide sets with Amari Cooper and Khalil Shakir. In his first nine NFL games, Coleman has 22 receptions on 36 targets for 417 yards and three touchdowns, which has made him a WR4/flex option for fantasy managers when he's healthy. It's unknown what exactly Samuel is dealing with, but he's only a bench option in deeper fantasy leagues, especially if Coleman returns in Week 14. Samuel rushed once for seven yards in the Week 13 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

The New York Giants are planning to give quarterback Drew Lock a second straight start this Sunday in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints, according to head coach Brian Daboll. Tommy DeVito (forearm) will be limited in practice on Wednesday. Lock got the start over the injured DeVito in the Thanksgiving Day loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys last Thursday and didn't impress at all in his first start for the G-Men, going 21-for-32 for 178 yards, no touchdowns, an interception (pick-six) and a fumble. However, he did carry the ball four times for 57 yards and a rushing TD to save his fantasy stat line. The 28-year-old might just be keeping the seat warm under center until DeVito gets past his right-forearm injury. Against the Saints defense this weekend, Lock will be nothing more than a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers in superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Wednesday that they signed tight end C.J. Uzomah to the 53-man active roster and signed wide receiver Parris Campbell to their practice squad. The move to add Uzomah to the active roster comes after starting tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) suffered a knee injury in the Week 13 win over the Baltimore Ravens that has him listed as week-to-week moving forward. The 31-year-old veteran tight end has been brought up from the practice squad in each of the last three games but hasn't been targeted at all in the passing game. If Goedert is inactive for Week 14 against the visiting Carolina Panthers this Sunday, it will likely be Grant Calcaterra that fantasy managers should consider streaming as a TE2 sleeper in fantasy, not Uzomah. The move to bring Uzomah up is a sign that the Eagles don't plan on having Goedert available this week.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) will be limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday, as will fellow TE Quintin Morris (undisclosed). Kincaid was held out for a second straight game in the Week 13 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, but the 25-year-old is improving and could make his return this Sunday on the road in Los Angeles against the Rams. We'll have a better idea of Kincaid's availability for this weekend after the Bills hold two more practices on Thursday and Friday. Dawson Knox has been stream-worthy the last two weeks in fantasy with Kincaid out, as he caught six of eight targets for 96 yards in wins over the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. Kincaid hasn't had the second-year breakout that many were expecting in 2024, as he's averaged just 6.5 half-PPR points in 10 games, which is tied for 23rd among all tight ends.

From RotoBaller

The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they re-signed free-agent quarterback Bailey Zappe and waived wide receiver Jaelon Darden in a corresponding move. Zappe returns to the Browns after they just cut him on Monday. Now that he's back on the 53-man active roster, he will return to a QB3 role behind starter Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season. The 25-year-old former fourth-round selection by the New England Patriots in 2022 out of Western Kentucky has played in 14 NFL games (eight starts), which all came with the Patriots the last two seasons, and he's completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Zappe can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol and will not practice on Wednesday. It doesn't come as much of a surprise, as Pederson said earlier this week that the team still hasn't decided if Lawrence will even be able to play again in the final five weeks of the season after suffering a scary concussion in the Week 13 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans on an illegal hit by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The 25-year-old former first overall pick stayed down on the ground for a while and had to be carted off the field. Especially at 2-10 on the year, the Jaguars have no incentive to rush their franchise signal-caller back, so Mac Jones is likely to make his third start of the year this Sunday versus the division-rival Tennessee Titans. In addition to a concussion, Lawrence played through a sprained AC joint in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last weekend.

From RotoBaller

The New York Jets are opening the 21-day practice window on Wednesday for wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) to return from Injured Reserve. Lazard will return to practice for the first time since going on IR with a chest injury, and he'll be eligible to be activated and play this Sunday against the division-rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday. However, the 28-year-old isn't a guarantee to be activated by this weekend if he isn't able to do enough in practice this week to convince the coaching staff to put him out there. Lazard is a favorite target of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but since his injury, the Jets added All-Pro wideout Davante Adams, which will make Lazard a whole lot less interesting for fantasy managers when he returns. Before his injury, Lazard had 30 catches on 44 targets for 412 yards and five touchdowns in seven games. He should eventually settle in as the team's No. 3 wideout.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder, knee) is in doubt for Sunday's AFC West Divisional showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, McConkey is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder and a knee sprain. The 23-year-old exited Sunday's contest late against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury and did not return. He is having a terrific rookie season so far, with 58 catches on 81 targets for 815 yards and four touchdowns over 12 games. It's unclear whether McConkey will suit up against the Chiefs and is considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor McConkey's practice status throughout the week. If McConkey is unable to suit up, Quentin Johnston, DJ Chark, and Joshua Palmer should see an increase in target shares.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler (neck, concussion) told 106.7 The Fan during his weekly radio appearance on Tuesday, Dec. 3, that he is still dealing with concussion symptoms and experiencing neck pain from the Week 12 hit that led to him being placed on the Reserve/Injured list.

Fantasy Spin: Ekeler noted he has yet to pass concussion protocol but expects to do so soon and is generally positive about the progress he has made since the hit. He is done for the fantasy season but could return for Week 18 or the first game of the playoffs if the Commanders make it that far. It is probably not a coincidence that Brian Robinson's two best fantasy efforts have come in the two games Ekeler has missed, so his fantasy managers should start him with more confidence than usual the rest of the way.

From TheHuddle

Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown, who has been promoted to offensive coordinator and now head coach this season, will be considered among the candidates for the permanent job in January, according to two team sources. The Bears also hope to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who interviewed for Chicago's offensive-coordinator position last offseason before they gave the job to Shane Waldron. Brown's role in the development of first overall pick Caleb Williams has been noticeable. Since Brown took over Waldron's job in Chicago on Nov. 12, Williams has five touchdown passes the last two games after nothing throwing one in the previous four contests. The young QB also hasn't thrown a pick in 232 pass attempts, which is the longest streak by a rookie in NFL history.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said "absolutely not" when asked if the team was considering replacing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik as the play-caller. Caserio also said that he thinks Slowik is a "great coach." Quarterback C.J. Stroud has regressed in his sophomore season under Slowik, and the Texans offense in general has looked sluggish in recent weeks. Houston has just one win all year against team with a winning record and will be fighting for a postseason spot down the stretch despite starting the year 5-1. Stroud specifically has really struggled under pressure and has seen his accuracy decline from what was a very impressive rookie season. The Texans' offense currently ranks 20th in EPA per play, which will need to improve drastically. The good news is Houston will look to work on their offensive inefficiencies on bye this week.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) said on Tuesday that he's still dealing with concussion symptoms from the team's Week 12 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. Ekeler does not remember walking off the field until getting into an ambulance to take a trip to the hospital. It's similar memory loss that he experienced after a Week 3 concussion he suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals. In addition to his concussion symptoms, he has neck pain, which led to the team putting him on Injured Reserve. Ekeler has yet to pass the concussion protocol but hopes to clear that hurdle soon and is staying positive through his recovery. With Ekeler not eligible to come off IR until the Week 18 regular-season finale, he effectively becomes useless to fantasy managers that have their championship matchups in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick has been signed off the practice squad on Tuesday. The undrafted back couldn't be sent back to the practice squad after being elevated three times. The Raiders are banged up with Alexander Mattison (quad) and Zamir White (quad) missing each of the last two games. That being said, the Raiders decided to sign McCormick to the 53-man roster. He has been operating as the No. 2 back over the last two games. He rushed 12 times for 64 yards during last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He figures to get a decent look down the stretch of the season with the Raiders not playing for much right now.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (knee) has been placed on the injured reserve on Tuesday. Turner suffered a knee injury during last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The severity of the knee is unknown, but it appears to be enough to force Turner to miss the next four games. The 27-year-old has put together a fairly quiet season with 16 receptions for 158 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. His absence should mean that Terrace Marshall Jr. gets more snaps on offense. However, Marshall probably won't see enough playing time to warrant rostering in any fantasy formats. Tre Tucker could benefit with a few more targets, but he has been boom-or-bust this season.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions defensive back Carlton Davis III (knee) was a full participant during Tuesday's practice session. This is good news to see Davis getting upgraded to full in practice ahead of Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. It appears Davis is on track to return from his one-game absence after suffering a knee injury during the Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Davis has been an important piece to the secondary with 51 tackles, 10 passes defended, and two interceptions this season. Davis should be ready to go, barring any setbacks ahead of Thursday's game.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons kicker Riley Patterson was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Patterson was added to the roster as insurance in case Younghoe Koo (hip) was unable to play. Koo ended up being able to play through the issue and appears to be fine going forward. That being said, the Falcons have decided to release Patterson on Tuesday. This does make sense considering there really is no need to keep another kicker on the roster with Koo healthy. Patterson has only played in one game this season and made all three of his extra point attempts during his lone game with the New York Jets. He'll look to catch on elsewhere as the 25-year-old should be able to find another spot.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander (knee) was a limited participant once again during Tuesday's practice. This is now back-to-back limited sessions for Alexander ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Lions. Alexander has missed three of the last four games due to a partially torn PCL. Despite that, Alexander appears to have a chance at playing in this important divisional contest. The All-Pro defensive back would give this defense and especially this secondary a huge lift. His participation during Wednesday's practice will go a long way to determining his status for Thursday's game.

From RotoBaller